Dancers from the Atlantic City region react to the actress' convincing performance as a prima ballerina in the film 'Black Swan'
Portman in the film 'Black Swan'
While some may be attending productions of The Nutcracker this holiday season, others may be getting their annual ballet fix at the movies.
After its release in local theaters last Friday, the film Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman as a prima ballerina, has been capturing the interest of Atlantic County’s dance community.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film tells the story of newly made principal dancer, Nina Sayers (Portman) who is struggling to cope with the demands of performing the main role in the classical ballet Swan Lake.
One aspect of the film that has amazed many audience members — particularly those with dance backgrounds — was the authenticity of Portman’s performance despite her inexperience with ballet.
“I was really impressed,” says Adrianna Poindexter, a dance performance major at Richard Stockton College. “All the dancing in the movie was beautiful.”
When it comes to portraying ballet authentically in movies, there is no fooling those who have studied the intricacies of the art form for years.
“Honestly, I was skeptical before seeing the movie,” e-mails Healani Harper, a ballet instructor for Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater Academy. “As a dancer I always feel sort of defensive when a dance movie comes out, especially when an ‘outsider’ is playing the main role.”
While there are precedents for actresses taking on ballerina roles in films, not all have been convincing. Varying camera angles and dance doubles can only do so much to disguise what the actress lacks in ballet technique.
Atlantic City Ballet soloist Sara Longren recalls being unimpressed with Julia Stiles’ performance in the 2001 movie Save the Last Dance.
“It was a completely campy movie with even more cheesy dance scenes,” says Longren.
Portman’s attention to detail in this regard in Black Swan was of particular interest to dancers.
“I feel that Natalie Portman really encompassed the look and carry of a ballerina,” says Longren. “Watching her move in the dancing scenes and even how she walked was very impressive and believable.”
Portman herself, having studied ballet as a child, has said she underestimated the challenges of impersonating a professional dancer.
“I really thought I was better than I was,” Portman told the New York Times, “If I had known how not close to ready I was, I never would have tried it. I’m glad I was a little ignorant slash arrogant.”
“I give her a lot of credit,” adds Longren, for taking on “such a challenging role and doing so successfully.”
But not all were entirely satisfied with Portman’s dancing.
According to Victoria Clark, the director of New Motion Dance Studio in Somers Point, Portman “definitely got the body-type down,” but the “pained expression” on her face seemed unnecessary.
As Black Swan continues to do well at the box office, some figures in the broader dance community are unhappy with the negative light in which ballet is portrayed in the film.
Ashley Bouder, a principal with New York City Ballet, wrote on The Huffington Post that Black Swan has stirred up controversy amongst dancers because it promotes and exaggerates ballet clichés.
Admit it. That rap video spoof a few years back from SNL featuring Natalie Portman as a sexed-up, dirty-mouthed, drug-taking bad girl is hilarious precisely because the idea that she is any of those things is absurd.
“I think for a lot of people it’s like a kickoff to the holiday season, and an event people enjoy going to see each year,” says the A.C. Ballet's Phyllis Papa, who employs 22 professional dancers in the production, many of whom come from, and were formally ballet trained in, other countries.
On Thursday, Oct. 28, the Atlantic City Ballet returns to the Stockton PAC for 'Dracula,' a full three-act ballet from artistic director Phyllis Papa.
High culture doesn’t always get much time in the spotlight in the shadow of Atlantic City’s glitz and pop culture extravaganzas, but one of the most enduring, and endearing, arts groups in the southern New Jersey area remains the Atlantic City Ballet.
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1. Anonymous said... on Dec 24, 2010 at 02:34PM
“When referring to a ballerina, the word is PRINCIPAL--not principle!”
2. Anonymous said... on Dec 27, 2010 at 11:39AM
“somebody has no life...”